Soldering implement



OC. 31, A H, WONG SOLDERING IMPLEMENT Filed Aug. 3, 1948 IN V EN TOR.

inflamedy oct. 31, 195o soLDERING IMPLEMENT Albert H. L. Wong, Seattle, Wash., assignor of y one-half to Michael F. Morton Application August 3, 1948, Serial N0. 42,271 Y 10 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to the art of joining bodies of metal together by the application of molten metal to such bodies to function as a bond therebetween and the invention is directed primarily to an improved tool forcarrying out this operation.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable tool or device designed in a novel manner to carry solder, soldering flux and a means for melting the solder, in association with a novel applicator by means of which the molten metal can be applied to the work with utmost facility particularly where the work is located in a position where it would bedifficult or impossible to perform the metal joining operation by the usual means of applying a heating tool and a stick of solder as separate or individual units.

Another object of the invention is to provide va tool of the character stated wherein means is provided for feeding a combustible element and the flux carrying solder into a melting chamber from which the molten metal is fed onto the work, means being provided also for advancing the solder and the combustible element by which the solder is melted, into the melting chamber as the previously melted solder is used up.

Afurther and more specific object of the invention is to provide a tool of the character stated comprising a handle member, a relatively long tubular housing attached thereto and aremovable retort or melting chamber attached to the tubular housing, together with a rod of fusable material carrying a wrapping .of solder and ex- Vtendedthrough the housing and into the retort chamber where the solder is melted through the medium of the burning fusable rod, the melted solder being fed from the retort or combustion chamber for the rod through a suitable spout and onto the work. Y

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the above described character having means in the handle facilitating the advancement of the fusable or combustible rod andthe solder wire, as the rod and wire areused up.

Still another object of the invention is to pro-y vide a tool of the charactery previously stated wherein the rod and solder wire are passed through an element which functions, upon retraction of the rod and solder wire to the proper extent, to quench the burning rod and thus check 1 the operation ofthe tool.

Other objects and advantages of the invention willbecome apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a personA skilled in the art.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the device constructed in accordance with the invention. Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 on an enlarged scale.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing it is to be noted that the implement comprises three mainsections or units consisting of a handle unit which is generally designated I0, an intermediate relatively long tubular housing unit which is generally designated II, and a terminal retort or combustion head unit which is generally designated I2.

The handle .unit m which may be formed ofV wood or any other suitable material, has an axialr passage I3 therethrough rin which is tted a tubing I4 vof heat insulating material.

The forward end of the handle body which i forward end of the handle body I5 and is externally screw threaded as indicated at I8. As

shown the tubing I4 extends through the cen-Y ter of this tubular plug I l` to the forward end` thereof.

Substantially midway between the ends of the,

handle body I5 there is formed the relatively nar-v row longitudinally extending slot I9. Extending' through this slot I9 is a pin 2l) which at its inner end extends through and is fastened to a slidel l plate2l, which plate has a greater length than width and extends longitudinally of the slot. The width yof theslide plate 2| is slightly greater than that of the slot" so that the plate bridges the slot and is held against movement therethrough but of the slot.

ht the outer side ofthe slot the pin is encircled by a washer 22 which also bridges the slot andi rests upon the outer surface of the handle bodyand interposed between this washer and the head 23 ofthe pin, is af'spring 24 which constantlyl urges outward movement of the pin and thus con? firmly" stantly ymaintains the' slide platev 2| against the inner side of the passage. v

-, The forward'edge of the slide plate 2I is turned down to provideY a thin lip as indicated at which engages the soldering material and combustible rod for the purpose hereinafter described.

The back end of the tubular housing Il is internally threaded as indicated at 25 to receive the threaded forward end portion of the wedge I1 whereby the housingl and the handle unit are solidly coupled together.

Snugly tted into the rear end of the housing unit is a relatively thick asbestos washer 21 which is held between the two annular plates 28 and this washer and the plates 28 are secured to the end of the wedge portion of the handle unit by is designated 40 and as shown it is wound in connected sections designated a by wrapping a number of convolutions closely together and then applying a long winding around the rod and forming another group of closely wound convolutions. By this arrangement it is possible to prevent the formation of a larger quantity of molten solder in the retort than might be desired at one time. The overall diameter of the solder rod unit 38 is approximately equal to or slightly less than the inside diameter of the tubing i4 and the the screws 29. The opening through the.` washer is approximately the same diameter as the inside of the tubing I'3.

Within the tubular housing Il is snugly frictionally fitted a collar 33, the opening through which is of approximately the same diameter as the inside diameter of the tubing I3 and ofthe asbestos collar 21 and is coaxial with the tubing and washer.

Between the collar 30 and the asbestos washer 21, the tubular housing is provided with several openings 3| in the wall thereof which function as Ventilating openings to prevent the interior 0fl the tubular housing becoming too hot.

AtV its forwardend the housing l l is internally screw threaded as indicated at 32 and it receives in this threaded end the reduced collar end 33 which forms an integral part of the retort unit. This retort unit. comprises a long housing b ody 34, one end of which has thefreduced externally threaded collar 33 for engagement with the z..

threads 32 of the tubular housing while the forward end is rounded off and has the relatively small axial opening 35 therethrough.

vAdjacent to the rear end of the retort body there is formed a pocket or sump 36- and immediately in advance of this sump the housing has leading therefrom the forwardly and downwardly curving discharge spout 3.1I through which is discharged molten metal onto the body of work.

Thesolder and` heat producing elementare combined to form a long bar like unit which is generally designated 38 and which is designed` to be extended through the implement from, the rear end of the handleI unit lo. as illustrated, the forward end of such solder and heating unitr being located, during the oration of the device, Within the retort unit I2.

The unit 38 consists, more particularly of along rod of a suitable combustible material which when ignited will develop, sufficient heat to properly melt the solder with which it is associated. The specific composition of such a rod forms noA part of the present invention and accordingly it is not believed necessary to` set forth any spe-Y cinc composition as being used or preferablein connection with the use of the invention. One example of such a rod which would give satisfactoryA results Vis the pyrotechnic article commonly sold under the name of Sparklerf Such Sparklers are conventionally made up of a composition comprising a slurry of bariumV nitrate and aluminum powder with iron lings, combinedY with an adhesive, such as dextrine, glue or gum arabic and a small quantity of magnesium carbonate. The combustible rod forming a part of the unit 38k isdesignated 39 andY thishas wound thereon a ropey of strand of solder material of the type commonly manufactured in tubular form and containing a suitable flux. This solder winding Yaperture, through which the unit must pass as for example in the asbestos washer and the metal collar 30. When the unit 33 is run through the implement in the manner illustrated the turned down lip 25 of the plate 2| will engage the convolutions of the solder winding and the operator, holdingv the handle unit l 0 in his hand, can effect the advancement of the unit 38 by pressing down on the pin .20- to cause the lip 25 tov rmly engage the vsolder winding and then pressing forwardly against the head of the pin so as to slide the pinr and the parts connected therewith forwardly and effect the advancement of the solder rod unit.

The combustion rod 39 is rst advanced through the opening 35 in the retort head and is ignited. It is then drawn back into the retort head allowed to burn where it will develop sufficiently high temperature to freely melt the solder which will go down into the sump 3B from which it may be run through the spout 31 onto the work. It will thus be seen that with this implement the solder can be introduced into small spaces where it would not be possibleA to use the separate and customary soldering iron and solder stick.

Where it may be necessary to turn the implemen-tup the collar 3!) prevents moltensolder running back into the tubular housing I Il.

When it is, desired to stop the burning of the rod 39V the entire solder-rod unit can be drawn back until the burn-ing, end is within the opening of the asbestos washer 21 by which it will be extinguished. It will be understood, of course, that this rearward movement of the unit 3B will not be interfered with by the tongue 25 as the spring 21Sl will` raise the pin and plate 2l so as to disengage the tongue from the solder wrapping.

By making the retort unit l2. detachable it will be readily apparent that units of various sizes mayl be provided for attachment to the forward end of the housing unit ll to meet requirements of the particular soldering jobs to be performed.

From the foregoing it ywill be readily apparent that there is provided in the present invention a novel implement whereby the work of joining metal bodies by molten metal such as solder or the like may be easily and quickly carried out. In addition to providing a means for supplying molten solder the retort head unit may be employed also for heating the work as is required', prior toy flowing the molten metal thereon thus making it possible to obtain a good bond between the molten metal andthe metal bodies to which it is applied.

I claim:

1. A portable implement of the character described comprising, in combination, a handle, a hollow retort head connected with the handle, said retort head having a molten metal discharge spout, and a molten metal producing means care riedi by the handle and movable forwardlyutherefrom into the retort and comprising a combusti'- ble'k heat producing element andf bonding metal carried therebyf andi adaptedzto beA melted by the.

5 heat producing element within the retort Vfor discharge through said spout.

2. A portable implement of the character described in claim l wherein said handle has a tubular passage therethrough through which the combustible element in the form of a long rod is extended together with the meltable bonding metal, said retort unit having a forward end provided with an opening through which the combustible rod may be extended to be ignited.

3. A portable implement of the character described in claim 1 wherein said retort is in the form of a relatively long chambery and has the wall provided with a molten metal receiving sump immediately to the rear of the discharge spout.

4. A soldering implement of the character described, comprising, in combination, a relatively `long handle having a passage axially therethrough, a tubular housing connected with one end of the handle coaxial with said passage, a molten metal receiving retort connected with said housing and having a rear end opening coaxial with the housing and the passage, said retort having a forwardly and downwardly extending metal discharging spout, a combustible heat producing rod, and a bonding metal carried by the rod throughout substantially the entire length thereof, said rod and bonding metal forming an adjustable unit adapted for extension throughsaid passage, housing and retort, the combustible rod when ignited at its forward end producing the requisite heat to melt the bonding metal within the retort for discharge through said spout.

5. An implement of the character described in l claim 4, with means carried by the handle and extending into the passage for contact with the rod and bonding metal unit for longitudinally shifting said unit.

6. An implement of the character described in claim 4 wherein said retort is in the form of a long head having an opening in its forward end coaxial with the housing for the extension of the adjacent end of the rod therethrough to facilitate igniting the rod.

7. An implement of the character described in claim 4 wherein said retort is in the form of a relatively long axially extending housing, the wall of the retort being formed to provide a molten metal receiving sump at the rear of said discharge spout from which the molten metal may be caused to fiow into and through the spout.

8. An implement of the character described in claim 4, with a relatively thick asbestos washer disposed within the tubular housing adjacent to the handle, through which the rod and bonding metal unit extend, said washer functioning as a means for extinguishing the ignited rod when the burning end thereof is drawn rearwardly into the washer.

9. A soldering implement of the character described comprising, in combination, a relatively long handle having a passage formed axially therethrough, a tubular housing, means at the forward end of the handle for connection in an end of the housing to secure the housing in 1ongitudinal alignment with the handle, the opposite end of the housing being screw threaded, a relatively long retort body forming a metal fusing chamber, one end of the retort body being open and adapted for threaded connection with the said other end of the housing whereby the retort body extends axially from the forward end of the housing, the opposite end of the retort chamber having a central aperture, means forming a fused metal discharge spout for the retort chamber, a rod of combustible material, fusable bonding metal carried by the rod throughout substantially the entire length thereof, the rod and bonding metal forming an integral unit adapted for extension through the handle passage and housing into the retort chamber, the forward end of the rod being adapted for extension through the said central opening of the retort chamber to facilitate igniting the rod, and means supported on the handle for limited movement longitudinally thereof for engagement with and advancing the said unit.

10. A soldering implement of the character described in claim 9 wherein said last means comprises a pin member, a longitudinally extending slot in the handle through which the pin member extends, a plate attached to the inner end of the pin member within the passage and having an inwardly directed lip for engagement with said rod and metal unit, a collar encircling the pin and slidably supported upon the outer side of the handle, the pin having a head upon its outer end, and an expansion spring interposed between said head and collar and normally urging outward movement of the pin and the plate carried thereby.

ALBERT I-I. L. WONG.

No references cited. 

